JOHN LEGEND!
Multi-award winning, platinum-selling singer-songwriter
 to headline 
Variety’s Dinner with the Stars 
Ralph Lauren Collection the Highlight of Runway Lights Fashion Show 

  St. Louis (Feb. 6) –Variety is pleased to announce that, master of musical styles and platinum selling—John Legend will headline at the Dinner with the Stars!  The dinner and concert will be held at the Peabody Opera House, and also for the seventh time the entire cost will be underwritten by World Wide Technology, Centene Charitable Foundation and The Steward Family Foundation, meaning all the money raised will go to the kids.  Variety Week is the pillar fundraising and awareness campaign for the charity.

Dinner with the Stars has been Variety St. Louis’ premier black tie gala for more than 50 years. This event, to be hosted at the Peabody Opera House on April 28 in 2018, brings together some of St. Louis’ most esteemed, philanthropic citizens to celebrate Variety. We are thrilled to announce that this year’s iconic headlining performer will be the critically acclaimed John Legend. 
Multi-award winning, platinum-selling singersongwriter John Legend has garnered ten Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, among others. Legend recently released his fifth studio album “DARKNESS AND LIGHT,” featuring his current hit “Love Me Now,” to rave reviews. The multi-talented Legend also serves as one of the principles for Get Lifted Film Co., a film and television production company that serves as Executive
Producers on well known works, including the HBO documentary “Southern Rites,” WGN America’s series “Underground” and films such as “La La Land.” 
The evening’s program will also feature the inclusive Variety Children’s Chorus and will celebrate Variety’s 2018 Man and Woman of the Year. Chaired by the incomparable Marilyn Fox, Dinner with the Stars is generously underwritten by the Steward Family Foundation, World Wide Technology and Centene Charitable Foundation, so that all proceeds from the event benefit Variety St. Louis.  Variety assists children with special needs in the St. Louis area with necessary medical equipment, therapies and programs needed to reach their full potential.
For more information, and to reserve tables or tickets for this year’s event, visit https://varietystl.org/charity-events-st-louis/dinner-with-the-stars. 
Dinner with the Stars caps off a full week of Variety events: • Variety Week starts Saturday, April 21, at the Union Station with the Runway Lights Fashion Show, where Variety will present a New York style runway fashion show featuring the collection of Ralph Lauren.   • Ralph Lauren designers will custom designed three dresses and a vest for Variety kids who will model while using their Ameren Power Wheelchairs. • The Week continues on Tuesday, April 24, with the Fox 2/News 11 Variety in the Morning.   • Wednesday, April 25 will be Imo’s for Kids Day.  Imo’s Pizza will offer at least 10 percent of profits of all sales of the Square Beyond Compare on this day to Variety.  This annual event traditionally raises six figures for the children’s charity. • Dinner with the Stars will be held April 28.This year marks Marilyn Fox’s 22nd year as Dinner with the Stars Chair.  This year Variety will honor Chairman of the Board and CEO, Bank of Washington, L. B. Eckelkamp, Jr. as Variety’s Man of the Year and Cheri Fromm as Variety’s Woman of the Year.  Last year’s Dinner with the Stars, featuring singer James Taylor performed to a sold out audience.

About Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis Variety is St. Louis’ best resource for kids with physical and developmental disabilities, also referred to as special needs, and their families. The organization focuses on four core areas that help kids reach their full potential: providing medical equipment, the therapy to use it, and developing unique educational and recreational programs. Variety changes kids' lives by improving skills, socialization, self-esteem and independence. For more information, visit www.varietystl.org.